Dual purpose pull strip



June 11, 1957 D. G. MAGILL DUAL PURPOSE PULL STRIP Filed May 5, 1955ATTORNEYS United States Patent DUAL PURPOSE PULL STRIP Donald G. Magill,Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New Jersey Application May 5, 1955, Serial No. 506,259

7 Claims. (Cl. 22951) The present invention relates to fibre containershavingpull strips for opening them and has particular reference to sucha strip which also serves as a means for protecting an exposed fibrousportion or edge of the con tainer.

In packaging certain products in fibre containers having interiorlyexposed raw edges, such as score lines and lapped side seam edges,considerable difficfilty is often I experienced in preventingingredientsof the product from seeping through these raw edges into thefibre material of which the containers are made. Volatile, oily, greasyor liquid ingredients if permitted to seep into the fibre materialweakens the container and often causes its failure as a container. Suchcontainers also are often difiicuit to open without the aid of a toolsuch as a knife or the like to cut through the fibre material.

An object of the instant invention is the provision in a fibre containerfor products of the above suggested nature, of a pull strip which servesa dual purpose of protecting a raw exposed edge in the container andalso serves as a means for easily opening the container to gain accessto its contents.

Another object is the provision of such a dual purpose pull strip whichmay be readily and economically applied to a composite container, i. e.a container having a fibre body and metal end closures.

Another object is the provision of such a dual purpose pull strip whichis inexpensive and which may be economically and easily attached to thecontainers during their manufacture without interfering with subsequentmanufacturing operations.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a composite fibremetal containerembodying the instant invention, parts being broken away;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional views respectively takensubstantially along planes indicated by the lines 22 and 3 -3 in Fig. 1,parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 and showing a modifiedform of the invention; 7

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views respectively takensubstantially along planes indicated by the lines 55 and 6-6 in Fig. 4,parts being broken away;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of a portion of theupper margianl edge portion of the container shown in Fig. 4, the viewshowing the edge portion prior to assembly with the top closure of thecontainer;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the upper end of a container similar tothat shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating a further modified form of theinvention;

Patented June 11, 1957 Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view as takensubstantially along a plane indicated by the lines 9-9 in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along'theline 10-10 in Fig. 9.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention Figs. 1,2 and 3 of the drawings illustrate a composite container for productssuch as biscuit dough, pie dough, frozen citrus concentrates and thelike products. Such a composite container preferably comprises a fibrematerial body 21 and sheet metal top and bottom closure members 22 madefrom tin plate, black iron or the like sheet material and secured to thebody in suitable end seams 23.

The fibre body 21 preferably is made from a one-piece fiat blank formedinto cylindrical shape to produce a tubular cylindrical body havingopposing marginal edge or lap portions 24, 25 overlapped and securedtogether by adhesive 26 to produce a lap side seam 27 which holds thebody together. The inner and outer surfaces of the body 21preferably'are protected by a gasproof, moistureproof, waterproof andgreaseproof coating material such as a metal foil (tin or aluminum), amicrocrystalline wax, plastics as Saran (polyvinylidine chloride), Mylar(oriented polyester resin) or other suitable materials. However theinner and outer laps or marginal edge portions 24, 25 of the side seam27 terminate in raw edges 29 (Figs. 2 and 3).

In order to protect the raw edge 29 of the inner lap 24 against seepagethereinto of the container contents, this edge is covered or enclosed ina narrow strip or tape 31 of high tensile strength, such for example asoil and moisture resistant regenerated cellulose (cellophane) material.The tape 31 is adhesively secured to the raw edge 29 and to theimmediately adjacent marginal portions thereof on both sides of thefibre material as best shown in Fig. 3. The tape 31 extends the fulllength of the edge 29 on the inner lap 24. Adjacent the top end of thecontainer the tape 31 is bent outwardly back on itself and extendstransversely of the side seam 27 between the inner and outer laps 24,25, and terminating beyond the seam and on the outside of the container,in a tail or pull tab 33 where it is clear of the seam during theformation of the seam in the manufacture of the container.

While the container is in use as a holder of a product, the tape 31shields and thus protects the inner raw edge 29 of the side seam 27.When it is desired to open the container to release the product a pullon the tab 33 in a direction toward and thence along the side seam tearsthe seam across to the inner raw edge 29 and then tears the seamlongitudinally along. the inner raw edge for the full length of thecontainer body thus opening the body. During this scam tearing actionthe tape 31 is also torn off the inner raw edge 29 but this is intendedsince the protection of the raw edge is no longer needed. Thus the tape31 serves the dual purpose of protecting the inner raw edge of the sideseam 27 while required and also acts as a means of opening the containerto gain access to its contents.

. As a modified form of the invention Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate astrip or tape 35 similar to the tape 31 of the preferred form of theinvention, with the tape 35 applied t 3 I. notch which is so located asto be incorporated in the end seam 23 of the container so as to avoiddirect communication therethrough between the interior and the x er o-Mme ntaine Ihebott m fthe o h-P e erably is located so as; to; providefor ,the; incorporation of the tape 35 in the end seam 23 in such amanner that it .canbe readilypulledout, :ht i r r i Hence while thefilledcontainen {is in use the-tapen35 overlapping, the sideseam;27;protectsthe1innen raw edge 29 ;of the seam against; permeation{by the contents of the container-and whenthecontainerlis tohe opened, apuli on .the tab ,37 withdraws the tape fljom the enchseam 23 and tearsthecontainer body longitudinally. along the side e m pe the b dy toexpose itsrec t n Thus as, inthe preferred form, ofithe initentiongrthe-.tape 35 er es-th am du -purp se.

In another modified form of the invention as illustrated in P125118.fiend 1.0, a. tape tlt mi to th p of the preferred form, is utilized-to.coverand protect an annular raw edged score line 42; which preferablyextends entirely around thebody21 adjacent its :upper; end- .The scoreli ne:42 is formed inthe inside'surface of the. con tainer body. Thetape 41 overlaps and extends along the score. line and, is adhesively'secured to the inner surface of the body, At the side seam, 27 one .endof-the tape covers the aforesaidraw edge 29 of the inner. lap24 so asto'entirelycover the score line 42 at this edge. The other or oppositeend of the tape 41extends it between the innerand outer laps 24, 25 ofthe-seam as shown in Figs..9 and 10 and projects andterminatesoutsidethebody in a pull tab 43.

Hence while the container is in use prior to opening, the tape 41overlapping and shielding the score line 42 protects theraw edges of thescore line against ingress of the container contentsand when the.container is to be opened, apull on the tab 43 readily tears the body 21transversely acrossthesideseam 27 and circumferentially along the scoreline 42 to completely sever the top end of the container from the body21 so as to facilitate access to the contents of the container. Thus asin the preferred form of the invention the tape41 serves the dualpurpose of protecting the described raw edges of the body and score lineand also serving to open the body by a severing operation. 7

.It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant ,advantageswill be understood. from the, foregoing description, and it will beapparent thatwarious changes maybe madein the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or'sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: I

1. .A container for products having ingredients deleterious to rawexposed edges of, fibrous materials, cornprisinga tubular fibre bodyhaving end members secured thereto in end seams, said fibre body havingan exposed raw edge on the interior surface thereof, and a protectivetape. adhesively secured over said raw edge on the interior surface ofsaid body, said tape terminating at one end in a pull tab extendingthrough and disposed exteriorly of said body, whereby said tapeservesthe dual purpose of protecting said exposed rawedge on theinterior body menses surface against the ingress of the containercontents after the container is filled, and of tearing said body openalong a line contiguous to said raw edge to gain access to said product.

2. A container of the character defined in claim 1 wherein said tape iscomposed of oil and moisture resistant regenerated cellulose material ofhigh tensile strength.

3. A container of the character defined in claim 1 wherein said fibrebody is provided with a lapped side seam the inner lapof whichterminates in said exposed raw edge on the interior surface of saidbody, and wherein said tape covers the full extent of said raw edge andsaid exterior pull tab, is disposed immediately adjacent said side seamfor tearing said body open therealong.

4. A container of the characterxdefined in claim 3 wherein said tape issecured to said raw edge and the adjacent marginal edge portions of saidinner lap and at one end of said seam is reversely bent upon itself toextend between the laps of said seam and terminates on the outside ofsaid body adjacent said seam fortearing transversely across said seamand thereafter longitudinally therealong to disrupt said seam and opensaid container.

5. A container of the character defined in claim 3 wherein said tape issecured to said raw edge andto the adjacent innersurfaces of said innerlap and said body so as to bridge said raw edge and wherein one end ofsaid tapeterrninates in a pull tab projecting through and disposedexteriorly of said body adjacent said side seam for tearing through saidbody along said seam to open said container.

6. A container of the character defined in claim 5 wherein said body isprovided with end closures secured thereto in end seams and wherein anend of said body adjacent one of said end seams and said side seam isprovided with an opening through which said tape extends, whereby saidtape is incorporated in said .one end seam for withdrawal therefrom bysaid-pull tab as an incident to opening said container.

7. A container of the character defined in claim 1 wherein the interiorsurface of said body is provided with a peripheral score line includingsaid exposed raw edge and extending entirely around said body, andwherein said tape isadhesively secured over and throughout said scoreline to protect said raw edge thereof, one end of said tape extending tothe outside of said body and terminating in a pull tab for tearing saidbody along said score line to open said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,180,541 Roden Apr. 25, 1916 1,674,542 Clawson June 19, 1928 1,449,073Thom Oct. 23, 1934 1,987,545 Alexander Jan. 8, 1935 1,987,596 Cox Jan.15, 1935 2,315,116 Flizikowski Mar. 30, 1943 2,554,137 Burton May 22,1951 2,579,443 Snyder Dec. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,570A Great Britain1903 148,843 Austria Mar. 10, 1937

